Cartoons Your Kids Are Watching That You’ll Also Enjoy

We’re sure your children are still mourning the death of Saturday morning cartoons, and admit it: You are, too. We all have a little bit of kid inside of us, and cartoons are one of the easiest ways to let that shine. But even though the 8 a.m. to noon block is now reserved for educational programming aimed at teenagers (cringe), it doesn’t mean you — oh, and your kids — can’t get your animation on.
Believe it or not, there are some kid-friendly cartoons that you will also enjoy. And there’s no shame involved in this, people; we’re aware sometimes in the craziness of (gasp) adult life, you just need to sit down, crack open a box of cereal, and watch turtles fight bad guys.

The Nickelodeon staple is both an oldie and goodie for parents and children alike. SpongeBob and his gang’s shenanigans are truly incomparable to anything else in the game. C’mon, they’ve got (king) Patrick Star.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UkxPqPkpWz4
Smell that? That’s nostalgia. Nickelodeon’s 2012 Turtles reboot was so successful that the network ordered a fourth season in June. We recommend this for all the meta moments that will happen when your child discovers Donatello’s badassery at the same age you did. Oh, and you’ll have an excuse to order pizza.

Adventure Time
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k2nUJvn6bYk
The wackiest on our list, Adventure Time (Cartoon Network) has the key to a kids’ show that parents will also love: A talking dog who can change freakin’ shape. Whether you’re prepping for a pre-algebra test or filing taxes, that’s on a whole different level of epic. (Just ask celebrity superfan Jhene Aiko!)

You can still watch reruns of this gem of a show, which ran on Cartoon Network for three years. Adults will love the throwback vibe of Batman but be enticed by the new, engaging plot lines.

Sanjay and Craig
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TgcV4Ljp54Q
The LOL-worthy Nickelodeon show, which premiered last year and details the escapades of 12-year-old Sanjay and his talking pet snake Craig, has a Bob’s Burgers feel to it that older audiences will love.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6OGcxSPFuYY
This hot-and-fresh Disney show is a breath of fresh television air. Gravity Falls chronicles the supernatural adventures of twins Dipper and Mabel while they’re on summer vacation in Oregon. Don’t believe the hype? Variety said Gravity Falls has a “breezy quality that should play to kids, and tickle some twinges of nostalgia among their parents.”

This British stop-motion show may have finished airing new episodes in 2013, but you can still enjoy Shaun thanks to the wonderful world of reruns (BBC). The animation has a Chicken Run feel to it that will undoubtedly strike a nostalgic chord in adults.

Let’s be honest: You’ll never get tired of this PBS classic. While your kids discover the power of the Cookie Monster for the first time, you’ll be chuckling at whatever celebrity is making a bizarre guest appearance (i.e.: Katy Perry, Usher, and Prince).